In the early 1900s, men were about twenty six or twenty seven when they first got married and women were about twenty three or twenty four when they first got married ("History of Marriage in America"). Women tended to leave college to get married while men got married after they finished, because men were expected to make all of the money to support their wives ("History of Marriage in America"). Women knew that once they got married, they would be financially cared for. People sought marriage due to the respect it earned, because only married couples were respected as adults ("History of Marriage in America"). Men wanted to be married because relationships outside of a proper marriage were shunned ("History of Marriage in America"). When getting married, a couple would also receive many wedding gifts ("History of Marriage in America"). The members of the Frome household are poor, yet they still care about what the town thinks of them. The two likely got married because they were seeking each others' company, and also it may have been to help their financial situation. Zeena has someone to support her financially. When they get married, they also obtain wedding gifts, the most prized being the pickle dish. People of the same religious belief also were more likely to get married, and the church married them ("How Marriage Has Changed over Centuries"). Ethan and Zeena Frome both live in a small town with only one church, and they are likely bound through the church. In the early 1900s, Christianity also played a role in the stability of a household. During this time in Massachusetts, it was thought that a woman's job was to make the home more welcoming (Fortin). Newspaper articles from this time suggest that women often played a far more active role in church than men to find purpose to their lives, and which gave them more respect in society (Fortin). Piety was expected of women, and it is also suggested that participating in the purity of church helped them escape from the chaos of the world (Fortin). Women were regarded as keepers of purity as well. Magazines during this time provided threats of what could happen to people that were not pure. Women were taught to stay pure, and if a man were to make disrespectful advances upon her, and the "woman stopped him from violating her purity, he was expected to be grateful to her" (Fortin). Zeena is holed up in the farm and does not have the opportunity to participate in church activities, and is deprived from socializing with the town. This is a contributing factor to her witch-like presence in Ethan Frome. Mattie Silver also does not prevent Ethan from making his awkward advances, so she becomes a witch as well.
Divorce in the 1900s
Although after the Civil War divorce became more common in the United States, it was still frowned upon by society and embarrassing to those involved. Many divorces were caused by deserting husbands who moved west instead of staying with their families (Malesky). Women who went through divorce in the 1900s called themselves widows, because "to admit to divorce was an admission of inferiority or rejection" (Malesky). Not only does Zeena Frome in Ethan Frome still love her husband and think their marriage could work out, but she also would be rejected by Starkfield residents if she were abandoned by Ethan. Ethan realizes this, and also knows that due to his poverty, even if he gave Zeena money in the divorce, it still would not be enough for her to live on for long. The couple would also be treated as inferior by the community. Ethan would be labeled a deserter and few would trust him if he ever returned, and Zeena would seem unwanted, even by her husband.
Modern Divorces
Although divorces still hold very negative connotations, those involved no longer run away to the west or call themselves widows. Instead, modern divorces are more public and aggressive. Arguing over money and custody of children is very important, and even social media is used as evidence to shift blame onto one person (Landers).
Sources:
Fortin, Elaine. "Early Nineteenth Century Attitudes Toward Women and Their Roles as Represented By Literature Popular in Worcester, Massachusetts." Teach US History. Old Sturbridge Inc. Web. 27 Oct. 2015.
"History of Marriage in America: 1800s and Early 1900s." HubPages. Pop Culture World, 21 Sept. 2015. Web. 26 Oct. 2015.
"How Marriage Has Changed over Centuries." The Week. The Week, 1 June 2012. Web. 26 Oct. 2015.
Landers, Jeff. "How Social Media Can Affect Your Divorce." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 20 Aug. 2013. Web. 26 Oct. 2015.
Malesky, Betty. "Divorce: Dilemma For Early Americans." Archives. Archives, 21 June 2012. Web. 26 Oct. 2015.
Wharton, Edith. Ethan Frome. New York: C Scribner's Sons, 1938. Print.
Article Analysis
Thesis: According to Elizabeth Ammons in "Ethan Frome as Fairy Tale," the story by Edith Wharton is a modern fairy tale about the treatment of women in the early nineteen hundreds. Using fairy tale archetypes, Wharton calls to attention how women were forced to work until they lost their health and became witches.
Support: Instead of making the problems of the women in Ethan Frome seem unique, Elizabeth Ammons describes the troubles as social and "embodiments of large groups and whole strata" (Ammons 150). In the time period, it was common for women to become "queer" from "poverty and isolation and deadening routine" (Ammons 151). When the women become "queer," they are described as witches. The fairy tale used to convey this moral also uses "a woman seven years his senior" and Mattie, who is seven years younger than Ethan Frome much like the seven dwarves in Snow White who also receive a "live-in 'girl'" (Ammons 146). Mattie Silver also has "black hair, red cheeks, white skin" like Snow White along with a "witchlike" caregiver (Ammons 146). Ethan Frome is a Snow White story that examines the impact of society on nineteen hundreds women.
Counterclaims: Elizabeth Ammons discusses the argument that the story "presents no moral issue at all" (Ammons 150). Ammons responds by bringing up a different critic's view of the moral demonstrated and goes on to elaborate on how the time period affected Wharton's writing.
Agree-ability: The interpretation by Elizabeth Ammons of Ethan Frome seems very accurate because all of her points fall into place with the evidence she presents. The archetypes Edith Wharton uses mirror the claim that Ethan Frome is meant to sound like a fairy tale.
Plot Elements
Exposition - The narrator is introduced to Ethan Frome, who is described as the winter. The narrator also hears a droning voice, who he expects to belong to Zeena. The story begins, and Mattie Silver is introduced as a youth full of life.Rising Action - Ethan starts to stalk Mattie when he takes her to town. Zeena realizes that not only is her husband in love with someone else, but Mattie actually likes him back. Zeena is described as a witch simply because she cares about her relationship with Ethan.Climax - Zeena finally confronts Ethan and asks Mattie to leave. Instead, Ethan and Mattie sled down a hill and try to kill themselves.Falling Action - Mattie becomes a witch like Zeena, constantly complaining.Resolution - The narrator finds out that the droning voice is Mattie's, and realizes how dreadful the story of Ethan Frome really is.
Table of Contents
"Why don't they just get divorced?"
Marriage in the 1900s
In the early 1900s, men were about twenty six or twenty seven when they first got married and women were about twenty three or twenty four when they first got married ("History of Marriage in America"). Women tended to leave college to get married while men got married after they finished, because men were expected to make all of the money to support their wives ("History of Marriage in America"). Women knew that once they got married, they would be financially cared for. People sought marriage due to the respect it earned, because only married couples were respected as adults ("History of Marriage in America"). Men wanted to be married because relationships outside of a proper marriage were shunned ("History of Marriage in America"). When getting married, a couple would also receive many wedding gifts ("History of Marriage in America"). The members of the Frome household are poor, yet they still care about what the town thinks of them. The two likely got married because they were seeking each others' company, and also it may have been to help their financial situation. Zeena has someone to support her financially. When they get married, they also obtain wedding gifts, the most prized being the pickle dish. People of the same religious belief also were more likely to get married, and the church married them ("How Marriage Has Changed over Centuries"). Ethan and Zeena Frome both live in a small town with only one church, and they are likely bound through the church. In the early 1900s, Christianity also played a role in the stability of a household. During this time in Massachusetts, it was thought that a woman's job was to make the home more welcoming (Fortin). Newspaper articles from this time suggest that women often played a far more active role in church than men to find purpose to their lives, and which gave them more respect in society (Fortin). Piety was expected of women, and it is also suggested that participating in the purity of church helped them escape from the chaos of the world (Fortin). Women were regarded as keepers of purity as well. Magazines during this time provided threats of what could happen to people that were not pure. Women were taught to stay pure, and if a man were to make disrespectful advances upon her, and the "woman stopped him from violating her purity, he was expected to be grateful to her" (Fortin). Zeena is holed up in the farm and does not have the opportunity to participate in church activities, and is deprived from socializing with the town. This is a contributing factor to her witch-like presence in Ethan Frome. Mattie Silver also does not prevent Ethan from making his awkward advances, so she becomes a witch as well.
Divorce in the 1900s
Although after the Civil War divorce became more common in the United States, it was still frowned upon by society and embarrassing to those involved. Many divorces were caused by deserting husbands who moved west instead of staying with their families (Malesky). Women who went through divorce in the 1900s called themselves widows, because "to admit to divorce was an admission of inferiority or rejection" (Malesky). Not only does Zeena Frome in Ethan Frome still love her husband and think their marriage could work out, but she also would be rejected by Starkfield residents if she were abandoned by Ethan. Ethan realizes this, and also knows that due to his poverty, even if he gave Zeena money in the divorce, it still would not be enough for her to live on for long. The couple would also be treated as inferior by the community. Ethan would be labeled a deserter and few would trust him if he ever returned, and Zeena would seem unwanted, even by her husband.
Modern Divorces
Although divorces still hold very negative connotations, those involved no longer run away to the west or call themselves widows. Instead, modern divorces are more public and aggressive. Arguing over money and custody of children is very important, and even social media is used as evidence to shift blame onto one person (Landers).
Sources:
Fortin, Elaine. "Early Nineteenth Century Attitudes Toward Women and Their Roles as Represented By Literature Popular in Worcester, Massachusetts." Teach US History. Old Sturbridge Inc. Web. 27 Oct. 2015.
"History of Marriage in America: 1800s and Early 1900s." HubPages. Pop Culture World, 21 Sept. 2015. Web. 26 Oct. 2015.
"How Marriage Has Changed over Centuries." The Week. The Week, 1 June 2012. Web. 26 Oct. 2015.
Landers, Jeff. "How Social Media Can Affect Your Divorce." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 20 Aug. 2013. Web. 26 Oct. 2015.
Malesky, Betty. "Divorce: Dilemma For Early Americans." Archives. Archives, 21 June 2012. Web. 26 Oct. 2015.
Wharton, Edith. Ethan Frome. New York: C Scribner's Sons, 1938. Print.
Article Analysis
Thesis: According to Elizabeth Ammons in "Ethan Frome as Fairy Tale," the story by Edith Wharton is a modern fairy tale about the treatment of women in the early nineteen hundreds. Using fairy tale archetypes, Wharton calls to attention how women were forced to work until they lost their health and became witches.Support: Instead of making the problems of the women in Ethan Frome seem unique, Elizabeth Ammons describes the troubles as social and "embodiments of large groups and whole strata" (Ammons 150). In the time period, it was common for women to become "queer" from "poverty and isolation and deadening routine" (Ammons 151). When the women become "queer," they are described as witches. The fairy tale used to convey this moral also uses "a woman seven years his senior" and Mattie, who is seven years younger than Ethan Frome much like the seven dwarves in Snow White who also receive a "live-in 'girl'" (Ammons 146). Mattie Silver also has "black hair, red cheeks, white skin" like Snow White along with a "witchlike" caregiver (Ammons 146). Ethan Frome is a Snow White story that examines the impact of society on nineteen hundreds women.
Counterclaims: Elizabeth Ammons discusses the argument that the story "presents no moral issue at all" (Ammons 150). Ammons responds by bringing up a different critic's view of the moral demonstrated and goes on to elaborate on how the time period affected Wharton's writing.
Agree-ability: The interpretation by Elizabeth Ammons of Ethan Frome seems very accurate because all of her points fall into place with the evidence she presents. The archetypes Edith Wharton uses mirror the claim that Ethan Frome is meant to sound like a fairy tale.
Plot Elements
Exposition - The narrator is introduced to Ethan Frome, who is described as the winter. The narrator also hears a droning voice, who he expects to belong to Zeena. The story begins, and Mattie Silver is introduced as a youth full of life.Rising Action - Ethan starts to stalk Mattie when he takes her to town. Zeena realizes that not only is her husband in love with someone else, but Mattie actually likes him back. Zeena is described as a witch simply because she cares about her relationship with Ethan.Climax - Zeena finally confronts Ethan and asks Mattie to leave. Instead, Ethan and Mattie sled down a hill and try to kill themselves.Falling Action - Mattie becomes a witch like Zeena, constantly complaining.Resolution - The narrator finds out that the droning voice is Mattie's, and realizes how dreadful the story of Ethan Frome really is.